The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan on Monday rejected reports claiming a large-scale exit of foreign companies from the country, describing the claims as “maliciously misrepresented.”
According to SECP officials, only 19 foreign companies wound up their operations in Pakistan between 2022 and 2025, while 79 new foreign companies were registered during the same period. They said this clearly shows that new foreign businesses continue to enter the Pakistani market.
Officials clarified that the figure of 125 companies circulating in some media reports represents the total number of foreign company closures since 1977, not closures in recent years. They added that this information is publicly available on the SECP’s official website, where the year of closure for each company is clearly mentioned.
Currently, 1,157 foreign companies are registered in Pakistan, according to the regulator.
SECP also highlighted that foreign investment activity remains ongoing. In January 2026 alone, foreign investment was recorded in 82 Pakistani companies. The investments came from countries including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Australia, and Germany.
Officials said the data reflects continued international business engagement and investor interest in Pakistan.
